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Reviews
The Family Man (2000)
Poor Nicolas Cage.
He huffs, and he puffs, but he can't even make his own role
interesting,and for twenty million dollars, that's not a good thing. He
does yell some bizarre words every once in a while, as he is wont to do,
but it all adds up to not much. The plot is a rip off of many other
movies, not even worth mentioning, although Don Cheadle as 'the ghost of
Christmas past' crossed with the drunken angel from that Jimmy Stewart
movie is pretty good. Tea Leoni is kind of a hoot sometimes too, but
poor Nicolas Cage really is at sea. At one point he has a scene with
Jeremy Piven that looks like battle of the Network Toupees, which is
odd- why was I noticing that? These two actors are usually interesting
at the least, but they both couldn't do much of anything with this glop.
The whole movie felt like a paint by the numbers set- you knew EXACTLY
what was going to happen right before it did, and there were no
surprises. I guess some folks find that comforting and safe, I found it
tedious and boring, pre-fab, like a Howard Johnsons hotel or restaurant-
it's exactly the same no matter what city you're in. ****SPOILERS
AHEAD*** And of course, the ending is as conventional as you'd imagine, which is
a shame- I was hoping the woman would blow him off just like he blew her
off, but no- they end happily ever after. This movie could have been
really interesting, and perhaps it was at one point, although I find it
hard to believe that the script could be any better than the film turned
out. It's a Christmas movie that you don't really need to see, and
actually I've spent too much of my time writing about it. It's just not
worth it.
Article 99 (1992)
Means well, but stacks the deck.
This is clearly a film that has it's heart on it's sleeve and wants us
to get outraged about the injustice and 'red tape' that is holding up
our VA system. Made before the glut of hospital shows such as ER or
Chicago Hope, it features many of the same ideas and stories, but shot
in a better way. The camera work is fine in this film, much better than
either of those tv shows. The acting is too, for the most part. I felt
the film was stolen by the great Eli Wallach, who walks away with every
scene he's in. I ended up feeling sorry for Kiefer Sutherland who had to
share the screen with Wallach- it was like watching a kid play
basketball with Michael Jordan. Ray Liotta does a fine intense job, and
the supporting roles are all wonderful. The great Kathy Baker is all but
wasted, but does a great job. Lynn Thigpen has a small role, but does
it with her usual dignity and grace. Kieth David, John Mahoney and
Jeffrey Tambor all bless us with their talents, and I ended up wishing
the movie focused more on them than on the 'pretty young things'. If
anything does not work with this film I'd have to say it was the
directing or the editing- for some reason it doesn't come together in a
satisfying way, despite some fine performances. Also, I'd just recently
seen M*A*S*H*, which sets the bar pretty high for this kind of movie.
And not to compare apples and oranges, but if you're looking for a
'things are screwy in the medical profession' film, M*A*S*H* would be
the best way to go.
Less Than Zero (1987)
Interesting attempt.
I prefer the book that Bret Easton Ellis wrote, for some reason they
decided to jetison most of the plot and alter the lead character of
Clay, thus watering it down till it's almost unrecognizable. Perhaps
they thought they had to 'clean it up' for the movies, although the
movie tries so hard to wallow in the shallow vapidity of the eighties
anyway that one is left wondering why- why alter a fine book at all?
Everyone gamely tries, but few succeed. The performances that work the
best are, of course, the 'bad guys'- James Spader and Robert Downey
Junior, in a role that has him doing most of the things he's recently
been arrested for, and doing them very well. It's a little eerie to
watch, a bit like watching 'Manhattan' now, knowing that Woody Allen
ended up essentially marrying his step child who is 40 years younger
than he is. Does that stop the enjoyment of the film? No, but it informs
it in a disturbing way. Less Than Zero has a bouncy sound track, a
catchy "Bangles" song (remember them?) and a lot of posing, which was
essential to the book but when you put it in a film it doesn't hold your
attention as well. It's like the difference between HEARING about a
person who was pretty but vacant that your friend saw at a party, and
actually SEEING that person at the party, just standing and trying to
look cool. I'd much rather hear about it than be forced to watch it.
Andrew McCarthy puts in probably his best performance, but the role is
so underwritten and uninteresting that he's left looking for Spader or
Downey Junior to help him get through his scenes alive. Jami Gertz seems
very nice but totally miscast in this role. Once again there is one of
those 'keep the sheets up so that it covers your privates' love scenes
that make us all boo the screen and run to get popcorn. Actually, this
one made me think why is it that our culture is so hung up about nudity?
Hung up to the point that when we show a love scene, it's done in the
most unrealistic way possible? It makes no sense. But I digress. Tony
Bill is the 'adult', who is mostly absent, and he's well cast and does a
fine job. Everyone does a fine job, it's just that the whole doesn't add
up. The parts must have looked very interesting when this film was being
made, but it just didn't add up. The director apparently came from
commercials and it shows- he puts a gloss and a shine on the pools and
the houses and the parties, but deep down you get the feeling he's
trying to sell you something you don't really need or want. Stick with
the book, you won't be sorry.
About Last Night... (1986)
Not quite the Mamet play.
That's not to say there's not something of worth in it, but someone here
claims that Mamet wrote this- the truth is, he SOLD it, and it became
'Hollywoodized', sanitized and beaten down from it's pure and shocking
form. On stage this was a howl, a rage against the inevitable- falling
in love. On film, it's a little gooey and sweet, not much bite there,
but a few interesting lines (usually all taken from Mamets play) that
hit home about the difficulty of sacrificing 'self' to become a
'couple'. Lowe and Moore are pretty, but it's the surrounding
characters that actually act and are interesting, and if you look hard
you can see some good actors in small roles, such as Megan Mullaly (Will
and Grace) Catherine Keener (Walking and Talking) and Ray Wohl
(Arli$$). This is definitely a film of and for it's time, although not
quite as painfully dated as St. Elmos Fire, you'll still laugh at some
of the hair styles and fashions and music. The director went on to
create "thirtysomething", which tells you right there that he didn't
have much in common with David Mamet. A curiosity, this film. .
St. Elmo's Fire (1985)
Lurid fun.
Sort of like watching an old episode of "Dynasty"- you'll laugh, but at
all the wrong things, and remember how 'cool' you thought the film when
it first came out. It isn't, and the proof is in the pudding, however;
it's quite fun to watch Rob Lowe pretending to play the sax, and the
other folk with their hair and unfortunate wardrobe choices all swing
and sway in time. The plot is really just 'boys meet girls and they all
whine'- but it's kind of an interesting thing to see how rich and
entitled they all are, it somehow perfectly crystalizes the 80's in a
way. Some good performances, Mare Winningham and Ally Sheedy are the
best I think, or at least the most realistic. They guys all seem to be
playing at being cool, and in fact this film led to the birth of the
infamous "Brat Pack", a moniker that I'm sure they'd all like to forget.
Shot like a soap opera (witness Demi Moore weeping as the curtains
billow around her) and scored within an inch of it's breathless life,
this is just a monument to excess, proof that teen films ended up going
way too far. Sad really, but interesting and kind of fun at the same
time.
WarGames (1983)
Cute.
I'd hardly call this a 'social warning' film, but it does have it's merits, chiefly the cast, and in particular John Wood and Ally Sheedy, who are both so lively and interesting that they help carry the rather dated and cloying plot. A kid hacks into a computer to 'play war games' of all things. This film hasn't aged very well, but it's audience is clearly 13 year old video game addicts so it's hard to get mad at it. Enjoyable fun for kids.
Before Night Falls (2000)
Beautifully done poetry on film.
This is a great film, taken from a book and turned into visual poetry by
the great Julian Schnabel. I didn't quite know what to expect, but what
I got was so compelling that I went back to see it a second time. It's
rare that you see a film about a poet (that is not a documentary) that
actually makes you see the poetry- Schnabel visualizes Arenas words in
ways that force you to feel them as you're seeing them, which is no mean
feat. The camera work is all new to me, shot in a style that can only be
described as unconventional- and that's not to say that it's noticable
or trying to be 'hip'- it's like a singer who has her own style that you
can't quite pinpoint but that is clearly not classically trained. Nina
Simone comes to mind. Anyway, it's refreshing and vital and it feels
almost like a documentary in the best way, you are made to feel that you
are a participant. The lead role, Reinaldo Arenas is inhabited fully by
Javier Bardem. I've seen him before in some Spanish films, but never
utilized to such a magnificent extent as he is here. He is this
character so thoroughly that at times it's frightening. His passion, his
life, his voice, everything about him is absolutely perfect. In fact,
all the supporting roles are amazing as well- I was particularly
impressed with Johnny Depp as two very different roles, and Sean Penn as
a local driving a wagon. Not large parts, not showy ones either. Well,
actually, Depps is kind of a show boat role- but the fact that these
great actors did this film, obviously to help Schnabel get it made
somehow, is quite telling. I don't know the names of the other actors,
but the ones that played Arenas gay friends in Cuba were all glorious.
And to see Cuba- although it wasn't filmed there!- is a treat as well.
The music is perfect, everything about this film makes you want to sing.
This is an outstanding film and well worth seeing.
The House of Mirth (2000)
Beautifully done.
I love this movie. It's an acquired taste to be sure, but it's all there
if you're willing to visit. I'm a big fan of Whartons book, so I was
almost looking for it to let me down, and it didn't which is rare. The
supporting players are all perfectly cast. Dan Aykroyd is a great Gus
Trenor, unexpectedly turning from friend to foe with a smile that
lingers a bit too long. Anthony LaPaglia is a wonderful Sim Rosedale,
although why they avoided his Jewishness is a mystery to me- the only
nod to politically correct revisionist history in the film. Laura Linney
is an icy Bertha Dorset, all smiles and warmth till you cross her, and
Elizabeth McGovern is the perfect Carry Fisher (no, not the one from
Star Wars) the woman who fascilitates everything. But the film belongs
to Gillian Anderson and Eric Stoltz. Stoltz is the perfect Seldon- all
repressed passion and loving desire coupled with inaction and a ghostly
demeanor that is just as Wharton wrote him- it's a difficult role that
we rarely see in films these days, the 'passive lover'; he's the
equivalent of a female supporting role in that he does nothing to help
her but love her, and I believed every minute of their screen time
together and was quite moved by it. The scene where he lets her lean
down and kiss him (this is framed, interestingly enough, with Anderson
on top and as the aggressor) was wonderful. And Anderson surprises and
delights throughout, throwing herself into the role of Lily Bart like
she's never thrown herself into a role before. I've seen the X-files
once or twice, I'm not a huge fan of the show (I'm not really into
sci-fi) but what Ms. Anderson does here is so wonderful and unexpected
that it took my breath away. Her Lily Bart is conflicted and needy and
beautiful, so torn by her circumstances that she doesn't know where to
turn, and this is all shown on Andersons face at any given moment. I
particularly loved the way she smoked, or held her umbrella, seemingly
non-chalant but actually quite studied, as if everything she does, every
movement she makes is designed somehow to get her what she wants. It's a
terrific performance, and it holds the movie together. She has clearly
joined the ranks of the major American actresses with this role. The
photography is gorgeous and the music (what little of it there is) is
just perfect. My one wish was that it moved along a little faster, at
times it felt rather indulgent, but then again it gave me time to soak
in the fantastic scenery. This is not your MTV Wharton, it expects you
to sit with it and think on it and not be afraid of the fact that in
1905, things moved much slower. After fighting with it for a while, I
gave in and had a wonderful time.
A great film, surprisingly relevant, and well worth seeing.
October Sky (1999)
Wonderfully touching.
I loved this film, it's simple and you've seen it all before, that's
very true, but this time it's done well. Young Homer (get it?) sets off
on his journey of discovery and it's a joy to watch. His troubled
relationship with his father is pitch perfect, as it is with his
friends. Inspirational without being sappy, this is like those old great
films of Barry Levinson. Very little schmaltz and a lot of heart. Rent
it, you'll love it.
Battlefield Earth (2000)
Need I say more?
You've read about it, you've heard about it, there's no need to go
into the plot or the folly of making this film at all. I won't quote Film
Comment on THIS film, that's for sure! Let's just say this; I expect
more from Forrest Whitakker. One of my favorite actors since "Fast
Times at Ridgemont High", I've been watching him, and my kid
took me to this film. Not unwillingly, I went, eager to see if Forrest
could rise above the murk. He didn't. No one could! To say this is
an indulgent mess would be to compliment the film makers.
Amos & Andrew (1993)
Social commentary kind of comedy.
This film doesn't really work, but it's an interesting idea, the black man mistook for a criminal. The script is dark, and this was made around the time of the Rodney King debacle, so maybe the country wasn't ready for it. I watched it for Nickolas Cage, I'm a big "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" fan, and he was pretty good. I liked the way he used to look back then, he was less "perfect". Samuel Jackson is really good in this film, he too played a real character. Bob Balaban (remember him from "Midnight Cowboy"?) is also really good. The ending doesn't work, but this is worth a look.
Date with an Angel (1987)
Not a great film at all.
A silly plot (an angel lands in a pool, a guy tries to help her get back to heaven while dealing with jealous fiance) but it's helped by the always wonderful Phoebe Cates. Done a few years after her star making turn in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, this film has her in the less confident role of jealous fiance, but it doesn't really work because she's more beautiful than the angel! Still it's kind of a fun movie, even if it gets a little boring sometimes.
Top Gun (1986)
Air Force recruitment film.
If this film didn't make young impressionable young men want to
join the air force, I don't know what would. Thank goodness we
weren't in the midst of a war! A silly plot, but some real fun macho
posturing in this film. Lots of sexy shots of Tom Cruise and Val
Kilmer in the locker room, getting mad at each other! But the only
real standout of this film for me is Anthony Edwards, who got his
start in my favorite film "Fast Times at Ridgemont HIgh". Anthony
plays "Goose", the sidekick who ****SPOILER**** of course,
meets his fate in the sky, making his on (and off!) screen girlfriend
Meg Ryan - and the rest of the audience! - very sad. Silly 80's fun.
Racing with the Moon (1984)
Treading water.
Not a great film, but worth seeing for the budding romance between Penn and McGovern. They make a very credible couple. I expected more chemistry between Penn and Cage, they are both, after all, Fast Times alums! But the script doesn't give them a lot together. Mainly watchable for a pleasant afternoon watching Penn do a nice guy role for one of the few times in his career.
Angel City (1980)
Terrific little tv movie.
The plot can get questionable on this one, true, but it's worth seeking out just to see the early work of Jennifer Jason Leigh! Done before "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" (my favorite) this tv flick has young Jennifer as the daughter of Jennifer Warren, another face you may recognize. Their family goes off in search of work, and Ralph Waite from the Waltons is in it too. Fun to see, everybody is sooooo young!
Gone in Sixty Seconds (2000)
Nicolas Cage is rich.
The rest of us who saw this movie are poor. It's that simple. Don't be
tricked into seeing this film, and I hesitate to call it that, because
you'll be sorry. This is part of Nicolas Cages 'sell out' trilogy, also
featuring The Rock and (insert film here). I used to enjoy this actor,
back in the days of Fast Times and Birdy, but he's starting to look like
a waxworks figure of himself, someone who changed his name and nose and
now does films for the lowest common denominator. Anyway, on to the plot
of this remake; Nicolas has to steal some cars. His brother is
involved. Poor Angelina Jolie is involved. It's a loud movie, a sheer
and total waste of time and energy on everyones part. The only
consolation is that the people who made this film will undoubtedly
cringe for the rest of their lives every time anyone mentions it. Silly,
empty, dumb film.
Princess Caraboo (1994)
I love this film.
Any film that brings Phoebe Cates 'out of retirement' is already great in my book. This woman is beautiful and talented and I wish she was in every film instead of Jennifer Anniston. Anyway, this is a delightful little fable that also features Jim Broadbent and Kevin Kline, both great comedians, supporting Phoebe Cates. Supposedly based on a true story, this little unseen gem is perfect for the whole family. Well done!
Say Anything... (1989)
Cameron Crowe proves his greatness.
Forget "Almost Famous", forget "Jerry Maguire"- this is the film that
Cameron Crowe should be judged on. (That, and the classic Fast Times at
Ridgemont High) This is a touching, simple, lovely, and very funny film
that you should see with someone you love. John Cusack has never been so
good- he keeps his smirking to a minimum, and Ione Skye (where'd she
go?) is terrific too. On the surface a simple love story, but it goes
much deeper and deals with keeping your heart and hope alive in the face
of difficult times with family, something we can all relate too. Filled
with wonderful cameos, including Jeremy Piven and Joan Cusack and Lili
Taylor and Eric Stoltz (an alum from Fast Times!), this is one of the
few heartfelt studio films made in the last 20 years. "Almost Famous"
and "Jerry Maguire" appear bloated and over-produced compared to "Say
Anything". Rent this for your first date for a real interesting evening.
A great film!
Bird (1988)
Intense acting.
Forest Whitaker makes a leap to stardom in this wonderful portrayal of jazz great Charlie Parker. Diane Venora is marvelous as well. I felt the film was very long, but perhaps that's because I saw it at a late night show. There's no denying that Clint Eastwood is a great film maker, I just wish the lighting was a little bit lighter- I found it hard to see in some scenes, but of course that could've been the projector. Anyway, Forest Whitaker proves here that he is majorly talented and can carry a movie. I wish more people would cast him as the lead, as I find him fascinating to watch. The music is, of course, great too. Filled with jazz classics that will leave you reeling. I don't think it's suitable for kids though.
Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
Lots of fun.
This is, I think, Judge Reinholds best film since Fast Times. Eddie Murphy is of course what this film is about, but I'm a huuuuggge Fast Times fan and follow all of them as though they were my friends, which they kind of are. This film is funny funny funny, not just Eddie and Judge, but Bronson Pinchot in a cameo you will never forget. This is one of the best 'buddy/cop' films, even better than the whole Lethal Weapon series, if you ask me. If you haven't seen this, where have you been?
The Anniversary Party (2001)
"The Real World" for rich and famous actors
I wasn't impressed with this film, I expected more from Jennifer Jason Leigh who is one of my all time favorites. First of all she has Alan Cummings as her husband. Yes, he's supposed to be married. To a woman. This is the central relationship, and it doesn't hold up because it's just not believable. I enjoyed the calvacade of stars (Kevin Kline, Jennifer Beals, Gwenneth Paltrow, Parker Posey) all stopping by, but it all didn't add up to much I'm afraid. It's also very very long and filmed in kind of an odd way. As the reviewer in Film Comment said, "every impulse is masturbatory. The film wants to satirize the sense of entitlement that disfigures its 'characters,' but that's precisely the state of mind that got the film made in the first place." All that, and not much of a plot too. It all felt very indulgent and too long.
Sweet and Lowdown (1999)
Absolutely lovely.
This is just a lovely film. Woody Allen did something here that far
outshines all his films for the last 5 years. I'm not saying it's a
great film, but like Sean Penn in it- he doesn't try so very hard. Sean
Penn is the best he's been in 10 years here because we don't see him
working so hard, he just IS this character, just like Woody Allen just
MADE this film. Sure, it's light and fun, but there's an art to that,
and to me it was a great relief to see these terrific artists
effortlessly letting something come to life. Also features the great and
ever underused Anthony LaPaglia. This is a fun one.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
A classic.
What a delightful film this is, fairly bursting with energy and fun,
sort of like an American new-wave explosion of teen commercialism, and I
mean that in the best sense. The least schmaltzy of Cameron Crowes
scripts, the best directed of Amy Heckerlings films, and the best cast
assembled in the last twenty years. Check out Jennifer Jason Leighs star
making entrance into film, it's even better than Sean Penns, which is
great. The other roles are a who's who of film today; Forest Whitaker,
Nicolas Cage (back when he was still a "coppola"- I guess that name was
okay to get him his first few jobs) Anthony Edwards and Eric Stoltz as
Sean Penn's "stoner buds", James Russo as the Pyscho, the list just goes
on and on. An enormously fun film that actually has deeper moments as
well. The teen film that John Hughes wishes he'd made, and that I wish
they'd do a sequel too.
Inspector Gadget (1999)
This is not just bad, it's VERY bad.
Well. Where to begin. Let's just say this; avoid this movie at all
costs. It's based on a cartoon series. The movie makes the cartoon look
like Hamlet. Filled with emasculated actors who seem embarrassed to be
here, lousy camera work, terrible music, and enough product placement to
make you want to never visit Yahoo! again, this movie is really the
bottom of the barrel. To quote the New Yorker, Matthew Broderick and
Rupert Everett mug their way through this picture with the gay abandon
of men who have spotted a rare species of paycheck in the distance."
They should pay us some of the millions they earned for watching it.
Awful.
High Art (1998)
A terrific film.
This is one to watch. Well made, beautifully acted, and it really has
some depth to it. What a relief! Ally Sheedy (my reason for watching it,
I'm 'growing up' with the brat pack) does the best work of her career. A
stunning leap forward for her, as well as for Rhada Mitchell and
Patricia Clarkson. Everyone in it is great, and it's so very well made
that I was stunned at first. This is a real treat. Difficult subject
matter, definitely not for the kids, but rent it. You won't be sorry.